Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mission Viejo, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 14 of 22 categories
Mission Viejo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Tracy
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Tracy
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $24,853 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tracy
Tracy, CA
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($617,300 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $460/mo less ($2,162 vs $2,622)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $24,853/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$24,853
$136,570 vs $111,717/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
67% lower
99.2 vs 301.4 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Home Value
$266k less
$617,300 vs $883,600
Tracy
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 79.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mission Viejo, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,600⚠ High | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,622⚠ High | $2,162⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,570 ✓ Higher | $111,717 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 26 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saddleback Valley Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.5°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,233 | 94,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.1% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mission Viejo's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 14 of 22 categories. Mission Viejo wins 14 and Tracy wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Mission Viejo to Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,600 vs $617,300 median home), income ($136,570 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mission Viejo, CA and Tracy, CA are about 355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.